The House of Commons has called on the Government to pause the roll-out of Universal Credit.

But Ministers are set to ignore the Commons decision - and press ahead with the controversial new benefit despite admitting that some claimants are waiting ten weeks for their money.

MPs unanimously backed a Labour motion calling on the Government “to pause the roll-out of Universal Credit full service”, after nearly all Conservative and DUP MPs abstained.

Totnes MP Sarah Wollaston was the only Conservative to rebel and vote in favour of the motion.

It followed a passionate debate about the benefit which opposition MPs, charities and councils claim is forcing people into debt and leaving them dependent on foodbanks.

Work and Pensions Secretary David Gauke admitted that some claimants have to wait ten weeks for their money, telling a Commons inquiry that 81% were now receiving their benefits in full within six weeks. It means 19% - almost one in five - are not.

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And he said 96% get their money within ten weeks, which means 4% of people, or one in 25 claimants, actually have to wait longer than ten weeks.

The Government is under no obligation to accept the verdict of the House of Commons, and Mr Gauke had already warned MPs: “Universal Credit is working and the rollout will continue, and to the planned timetable.”

There was anger after the vote as Labour MPs demanded the action pay attention to the view of the House of Commons.

Speaker John Bercow waded into the row by telling the Commons that it would be “highly desirable” for the Government to send a Minister to speak to the House of Commons and show respect by “indicating what it intends to do”.

Work and Pensions secretary David Gauke speaks during the Work and Pensions Committee at the House of Commons in London (Image: PA)

The Government attempted to avoid a formal division of the House of Commons by remaining silent when Mr Bercow asked if anyone opposed the motion, which was proposed by Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Debbie Abrahams and backed by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

However, some Labour MPs forced a division by shouting “no!”. This officially meant they opposed their own motion, but it was a way of using House of Commons rules to ensure a full division took place.

Labour, Liberal Democrat and most other opposition MPs then voted for a pause, while Conservative and DUP MPs abstained. The final vote was 299 MPs backing the Labour motion and none voting against.

Conservative MPs were given orders from Government whips to abstain in the vote.

Universal Credit replaces a range of existing benefits such as Housing Benefit, Working Tax Credit and Income Support.

And Mr Gauke defended the policy by telling MPs that Universal Credit creates a system “which allows people to break free from dependency, take control of their lives and move into work”.

She said: “Since the full roll-out of Universal Credit across all three Jobcentres in Newcastle in March this year, it has possibly doubled the work of my caseworkers and other local agencies since its introduction.

“It has been nothing short of a shambles. To roll it out any further, without dealing with some of its fundamental failures, will just roll out misery for thousands more people.”